Evaluation of aspirin, caffeine, and their combination in postoperative oral surgery pain.
Three hundred fifty outpatients with postoperative pain after the surgical removal of impacted third molars were randomly assigned, on a double-blind basis, to receive a single oral dose of aspirin 650 or 1000 mg, caffeine 65 mg, a combination of aspirin 650 mg with caffeine 65 mg, or placebo. Using a self-rating record, subjects rated their pain and its relief hourly for 6 hours after medicating. Estimates of summed pain intensity difference, peak pain intensity difference, total relief, peak relief, and hours of 50% relief were derived from these subjective reports. All active treatments except caffeine were significantly superior to placebo. Pairwise comparisons indicated the aspirin-caffeine combination was statistically superior to aspirin 650 mg alone for hours of 50% relief among patients who had severe baseline pain. Adverse effects were transitory and none were serious.
Forbes
J A
JA
Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
Jones
K F
KF
Kehm
C J
CJ
Smith
W K
WK
Gongloff
C M
CM
Zeleznock
J R
JR
Smith
J W
JW
Beaver
W T
WT
Kroesen
M
M
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008964:Molar, Third; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014081:Tooth Extraction
D002110:Caffeine; D001241:Aspirin